Whole Programme

W1: High Cup Nick

After a gap of some years we are offering the opportunity, once again, to visit probably the most iconic view of the North Pennines, High Cup Nick. A deep U-shaped chasm on the Pennine fellside, this dramatic geological formation is part of the well-known Whin Sill, and overlooks the best glaciated valley in Northern England. Our route will take us up Threlkeld Side and past Rundale Tarn before we approach our viewpoint of the valley from the east. Please note this is a hard walk that uses stony paths and crosses open moorland.

W3: Visit to Altberg Factory and walk to Willance’s Leap

Our traditional start of Festival event is back by popular demand. Altberg is the last remaining boot manufacturer in England, and we will start the day at the factory to see how the boots are designed and made - for walking, the army and biking. There’s time for a cup of tea and a look round the excellent factory shop before a walk along Whitcliffe Scar with great views over lower Swaledale to hear about the famous but gruesome legend of Willance’s Leap.

W4: Wensleydale Challenge – Leg 1 – Colsterdale and Great Haw - new

The first leg starts in the little known Colsterdale, where we park beside the ford at Gollinglith Foot. A good coal road takes us west onto the Swinton Estate and up through the grouse moors, passing numerous disused shafts and coal pits. After a brief foray up Little Haw we have a short climb to the top of Great Haw beside the York Dike. From here we follow the ridge north to West Scrafton Colliery and strangely named Great Roova Crags. We follow the old coal miner’s tracks passing Foss Rakes from where we follow the track above the becks back down to our vehicles.

W5: The Reservoirs of Teesdale - new

We cross the dam by an impressive valve tower and follow the north bank of Hury Reservoir. This links to Blackton Reservoir nature reserve where a variety of waterfowl may be observed (binoculars may help). We make a short ascent to cross the dam of Balderhead Reservoir. After a short time on the Pennine Way we join the route of Wainright’s “A Pennine Journey” up to Goldsborough; a flat topped rocky outcrop at 389m visible for miles and giving a 360 degree view of the surrounding North Pennine landscape. A short section of track across rough moorland leads to farmland and the car park.

W6: Middleham Circular including Braithwaite Hall (TBC) - new

Sunday 20 Sept 2020

Leave Station car park 9.15am. Start Middleham. Park in the Square and meet at the entrance to Middleham Castle.(GR: NY905281) at 10.00am. 8 Miles. Moderate. £7

Our walk leads uphill with fine views back to the Castle. We will explore the site of the first Middleham Castle built around 1090 before descending to a lovely riverside walk to the picturesque village of East Witton. Returning on the south bank of the River Cover we will visit Braithwaite Hall, owned by the National Trust but not generally open to the public ( afternoon tea in the oak panelled drawing room may be possible) Returning to Middleham via woodland and field paths, there will be time to visit Middleham Castle which is maintained by English Heritage (charge for non-members) if you wish.

T1: Richmond’s Wynds and Lanes

Sunday 20 Sept 2020

Meet at Castle Hill Bookshop at 2.15pm. Free but please book a place. Donations to Richmondshire Museum most welcome.

This walk explores Richmond’s Wynds and Lanes offering big views, intriguing nooks, secret places and a chance to hear of the people who lived in them. The walk is mostly on pavements but also has some steep slopes and steps.

W7: Wensleydale Challenge – Leg 2 – Great and Little Whernside - new

Today we start in Nidderdale near to the dam wall of Scar House Reservoir. We follow the shores of this and Angram Reservoir before heading up the moor to Great Whernside at 2,309 feet. (Not be confused with ‘Whernside’ in The Yorkshire 3 Peaks). We follow the high ridge around to Little Whernside at 1,979 feet, with great views of Nidderdale on our right and Coverdale on the left. We soon pick up the track back to the reservoir shore, crossing the dam wall back to the Car Park.

W8: The Feldom Wander

This walk continues to be popular, so if you are interested in joining it please book early. We have special access to the MOD Feldom Ranges land, rarely walked, a mixture of heather moorland, scattered woods and deep cut valleys. This is an Army training area, not otherwise known to the rambler, and rich in archaeological remains, including a fine Hill Fort with impressive views to the northern dales; and some of the best cup and ring stones in the area.

W9: High Force and Low Force

Our walk takes us to Howick Scar, where the Whin Sill outcrop forms a steep sided valley, then west over Howick Moor with great views of the North Pennine fells, dotted with white farm buildings, and further evidence of the impressive outcrop of the Whin Sill, dissected at this point by the River Tees. We drop down to the river and follow the Pennine Way along the riverbank, passing the dramatic High Force waterfall before arriving at the gentle Low Force waterfalls. After making our way back to Bowlees we should have plenty of time to stop off at the Visitor Centre to look at the displays and have a drink and a cake, or alternatively you may wish to wander up into the nature reserve and see picturesque waterfalls and Gibson’s Cave. There will be plenty of photo opportunities, so remember to bring the camera!

H1: Wenlock Wood - new

This walk winds through the woods of Leadmill Gill before crossing over onto Catterick Golf Course. We climb the short ‘Heartbreak Hill’ watching out for golfers, before entering the MOD Wenlock Plantation. We venture out across the open training area on Scotton Moor, before returning to the golf course past the curious Druggon Hill.

Leave Station car park at 9.00am Start at Layby on A684 before West Witton (GR: SE067885) at 9.30am 11 Miles. Hard. £7 (£6 if all 6 stages booked)

We start with a steady climb out of the village up the flank of Penhill and up the short steep escarpment to the beacon on the eastern end of the moor. Good sandy paths through the peat take us the length of Penhill to the Height of Hazely at 1,814 feet. We can admire an expansive view of Wensleydale to the north and Coverdale reveals itself to the south. Then a gentle descent to pick up the track which connects the two Dales and follow this down to Cote Bridge. We stay high above West Burton to Morpeth Gate, and contour along the side of Wensleydale to the Preceptory of The Knights Templar and its tiny stone graves. From here we carry on pretty much on the level back to West Witton.

W11: Fremington Edge and Calver

This is a classic walk in this part of the Dale giving great views of both Swaledale and Arkengarthdale – but there is plenty of height to be gained – hence the grading. From Reeth we climb up to Fremington Edge and walk along the top, before dropping down to Storthwaite Hall. Depending on bridge repair work we will cross the footbridge direct to Arkle Town, or may need to divert via the pretty village of Langthwaite. We follow the track to an old quarry below Cringley Hill then down to Fore Gill Gate. We climb again to the top of Calver Hill before descending back to the finish in Reeth.

W12: Wensleydale by Foot and Train - revised route from last year’s walk

Tuesday 22 Sept 2020

Leave Station car park at 9.15am. Start at the top of Leyburn Market Place at 9.45am. Car parking in Leyburn Market Place (honesty box) or Council car park (charges). We will finish our walk in Redmire in time to take the 3.55pm train back to Leyburn and our cars. 7 miles. Moderate. £7 (Rail ticket costs £5 extra to be purchased on the day, pay on the day).

Leaving Leyburn Market Place our walk takes us along the wooded path above the limestone escarpment of Leyburn Shawl with fine views of Wensleydale and Penn Hill. We visit the hidden remains of a smelt mill and lead mine before reaching Bolton Castle with its tales of Mary Queen of Scots. Our return journey to Leyburn will be aboard a train on the heritage line run by the Wensleydale Railway.

Leave Station car park at 9.00am Start at Newbiggin in Bishopdale at the Lay-by at Cross Lanes (GR: SD999857) at 9.45am 11 Miles. Hard. £7 (£6 if all 6 stages booked)

North Yorkshire has many ‘Newbiggins’, this one in Bishopdale is a typical ribbon village. We head off up Wasset Fell and onto Naughtberry Hill at 1,879 feet. We continue up the moor to the grand Buckden Pike at 2,303 feet, overlooking Wharfedale to the south. We then make our way through the lead mine remains to Bishopdale Head. After a short road section we cross the beck and descend the ‘U’ shaped Bishopdale through the fields and the outskirts of Thoralby before returning to Cross Lanes.

W14: Gunnerside and Surrender Bridge

We start in the village of Gunnerside with a stiff climb up onto Melbecks Moor. We will see lots of evidence of the different industries and land uses that have helped shape the Swaledale we know today. We pass through sheep farms before we emerge onto the wide vistas of the grouse shooting moor, and will learn about how the moor is managed for this purpose. We will see lots of evidence of the former lead mining industry, including many interesting ruins of buildings connected with that period of activity, as we descend to Surrender Bridge. We finish along part of the Swaledale Marathon route back to Gunnerside, along a path which gives superb views up Swaledale. This walk is on good paths and vehicle tracks throughout.

W15: Coverdale’s “Dairy Days” - new

Based on a recent Yorkshire Dales National Park community history project this 8 mile walk explores some of Coverdale’s dairying heritage from ancient times to the present day as well as sampling the delights of Coverdale countryside, it’s pretty villages and monastic past. Starting from Carlton, the principal village, the route takes us up onto the moor below Penhill before making a circuit of both sides of the valley. Whilst often a gentle ramble the route does involve a couple of steeper sections when we access vantage points from which there are ‘potentially’ exceptional views.

H2: Carlton & Stanwick - new

Wednesday 23 Sept 2020

Start at Eppleby Village Shop (GR: NZ178132).at 10.15 am. 3.5 Miles. Easy. Free just turn up on the day. Ample parking around the Village Green.

This short walk, with plenty of historic interest, takes us through the fields and lanes alongside Forcett Beck before joining Mary Wild Beck where we enter the Iron Age Stanwick Earthworks. We pass through the ancient Kirkbridge churchyard and briefly explore the English Heritage site (Free). We head back across the fields for a welcome cuppa at the Village Store Café. Please Note: This walk can be a bit boggy in a couple of places after heavy rain so please wear appropriate footwear.

T2: Exploring Richmond

Wednesday 23 Sept 2020

Meet outside the Town Hall at 12.00 noon. Free but donations to the Richmond Mayor’s Charity most welcome.

Your costumed guide, a Richmond policeman of 1842, takes you for a walk back in time lasting just over one hour.

Addlebrough is the distinctive small hill on the left-hand side of Wensleydale. We use the National Trust Permissive Path to get to the summit at 1,451 feet. The path takes us on to Carpley Green Farm where we pick up Busk Lane and cross the attractive heathland where curlew and oystercatchers can usually be seen. High Lane then takes us down through the limestone landscape to the hamlet of Stalling Busk in Raydale, with its views over Semerwater, to The Cam High Road. We follow the route of Wainwrights’s ‘Pennine Journey’ north to Bainbridge with a fine view of the remains of the Roman Fort. From here we contour back along the escarpment via Thornton Rust.